Reid hints at need for lame-duck session

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday said a lame-duck session of Congress could be necessary if Republicans oppose legislation to keep the federal government running through a change in administrations.

{mosads}Reid said Democrats would like to pass a spending resolution that runs from Oct. 1 through February.

But if the White House and Republicans seek to oppose that measure in favor of one with a shorter time frame, lawmakers would have to come back in November or December to avoid a government shutdown.

"I think it’s our initial hope that we can fund the government through February," Reid said. "If not, then we'll come back for a lame duck. … We’re going to try to make sure [a government shutdown] doesn’t happen."

The temporary spending measure is necessary because Congress has yet to pass a single appropriations bill and the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

Republicans have not indicated how they would vote on the Democrats’ continuing resolution.

Reid later added that "there is a limited number of things that we need to do, but we can’t leave unless we do them," referring to pending legislation on energy, defense policy and a second economic stimulus plan.